Wednesday Hikes
2st Quarter 2005
Hike Ratings
First Letter Second Letter
Distance Elevation Gain
AA: Over 12 miles AA: Over 2,000 ft.
A: 9-12 miles A: 1,500-2,000 ft.
B: 6-9 miles B: 1,000-1,500 ft.
C: Under 6 miles C: Under 1,000 ft.
Also in the hike descriptions, the terms easy, moderate or strenuous reflect the overall trail conditions, the physical challenge and other factors influencing hike difficulty. If you have questions, CONTACT THE LEADER.
All-day hikes submitted by Ann Gleason 828-859-9387, cowbonetail@yahoo.com . Driving distance is round-trip from Asheville. Hikes will assemble at Westgate Shopping Center near I240 exit 3B UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. Some hikes will have second meeting places as described in the hike listing. Please phone the hike leader if you are not sure of the meeting location.
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-454 Apr. 6 Porter’s Creek Trail (GSMNP) 8:30 AM Hike 4.5, Drive 164, 700 ft. ascent, Rated C-C Diane Hankins, 298-2870 (before 9 pm). 900M Note later start time. All day trip to one of the premier wildflower trails in the National Park. Very leisurely paced up and back. We’ll take time to identify the flowers we see along the way. Suitable for anyone over 10 years old (those under 18 MUST be accompanied by adult). Group Limited to first 15 who call beginning on March 24. Only meeting place is Westgate Shopping Center. Topo: Mt. Le Conte; also Nat’l. Geographic GSMNP map
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-164 Apr. 13 Hawkbill Creek-Little Snowball Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 8-9, Drive 50, 2235 ft. ascent, Rated B-AA Tom Bindrim, 828-299-1572 Beaucoup wildflowers if our timing is right, cascading water, pick some ramps, nice scenery from Hawkbill Rock and Little Snowball, some off-trail, moderately paced. *Only meeting place: Rear parking lot at Folk Art Center at 8:00 AM. Topo: Craggy Pinnacle
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-455 Apr. 20 Lower Mt Cammerer Trail 8:00 AM Hike 8, Drive 120, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-C Tom Sanders, 828-252-6327 mel&tgs@main.nc.us This moderate in and out hike from the Cosby Camp Ground area of the Great Smokies hopefully will coincide with yellow Trillium, Showy Orchis and Dwarf Iris which thrive here in late April. In any event, Lower Cammerer is a beautiful trail with a gradual incline up and then down. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck stop at Exit 24 of I-40 at 8:30 AM Topo: Hartford
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-120 Apr. 27 Charlies’ Bunion-Kephart Prong 8:00 AM Hike 10.2, Drive 140, 1500 ft. ascent, Rated A-B Elisabeth Feil, 828-684-8719 hofeil@brinet.com 900M, SB6K? An outstanding rock outcrop along the AT, stunning views, and a great wildflower display are the highlights of the trip. Starting at Newfound Gap, we hike 4 miles to the Bunion, then along Dry Sluice Gap, Grassy Branch and Kephart Prong Trails down to US 441. (There is an optional side trip over Mt. Kephart (6000 ft) to The Jumpoff, which adds another 2 miles. We’ll make our decision when we get there.) This hike is moderate to strenuous about 1500 ft uphill and 2800 ft down. Car shuttle. Second meeting place: Quality Inn at Junction US 19 and US 276 in Maggie Valley at 8:40 am. Topos: Clingmans Dome, Mt Guyot, Smokemont; also Nat’l. Geographic GSMNP map
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-310 May 4 Jones Gap: Rim of the Gap Loop 8:00 AM* Hike 7, Drive 80, 1800 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Jo Anderson, 828-693-7081 jobob@mehsi.com Starting at Jones Gap State Park (NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry), we will hike up the Rim of the Gap Trail with views of the Gap as we ascend. On top, a loop up on to the ridge, then down the # 8 connector to the river. *Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form car pools, and meet leader at east side of Ingles Parking lot at 8:40 AM. (take I-26 to exit 53, then turn right on upward Rd. go 1 mile to Ingles at US 176. Additional meeting place: Jones Gap parking lot at 9:00 am. Topos: Cleveland, Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness map.
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-456 May 11 AT: Stecoah Gap to Yellow Creek Gap 8:00 AM Hike 7.6, Drive 170, 1700 ft. ascent, Rated B-A Jack Fitzgerald, 828-685-2897 suejackfitz@bellsouth.net A moderate hike on the southern portion of the AT, between Stecoah Gap and Yellow Creek Gap. Guaranteed to see lots of wildflowers, including the rare yellow trillium and yellow ladyslipper. There will be a car key switch. Topos: Hewitt, Fontana Dam
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-457 May 18 AT: Brown Gap to Max Patch and return 8:15 AM Hike 7, Drive 100, 1100 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Ken & Carol Deal 828-281-4530 KMCDeal@aol.com Note later start time. An in and out hike on the AT, with a steep uphill for the first mile, then leveling off into moderate ups and downs, with a final climb to the top of Max Patch for lunch. If we’re lucky, it will be clear for the beautiful views. Second meeting place: Pilot Truck Stop, exit 24, off I-40 at 9:00 AM. Topo: Lemon Gap
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-458 May 25 Moonshine Cave Falls-The Dismal Trail 8:00 AM* Hike 9, Drive 95, 1200 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Ellie Thrush 828-697-9743 treehouse@highstream.net An in and out hike on Raven Cliff Falls Trail to the Dismal and on to an interesting waterfall. Mostly level with some rolling ups and downs. Only climb is the Dismal Trail. (NOTE: $2 fee per person for park entry Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Raven Cliff Falls parking lot on US 276 at 9 AM. Topo: Table Rock; also Mountain Bridge Wilderness map.
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-216 June 1 AT: Sams Gap to Devils Fork Gap 8:30 AM Hike 8.2, Drive 90, 1400 ft. ascent, Rated Moderate Ruth Hartzler, 828-251-0886 ruthmtn@aol.com Note later start time. This section of the AT features nice views into Tenn. From the ridge line, traversing a series of knobs along an unusual section of the NC-TN state line where TN is east of NC and the south bound hiker is actually traveling North. Topo: Sams Gap
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-459 June 8 MST: NC 128 to Greybeard overlook 8:00 AM Hike 5 or 8.9, Drive 80, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Ann Gleason, 828-859-9387 cowbonetail@yahoo.com . We head up into old growth Balsam and Spruce forests just south of Mt Mitchell. This is a scenic hike with dramatic views and several rocky climbs. Naturalist Taylor Barnhill will be coming along to enlighten anyone interested along the way. Hikers wishing a shorter trek can stop after 5 miles at Balsam Gap, if desired. Car shuttle. Optional post-hike drive to the view and lodge at Mt Mitchell. Second meeting place: Craven Gap on BRP at 8:20 AM. Topo: Mt. Mitchell, Montreat; also MST Profiles, pg. 66-69
WEDNESDAYNo. W0502-460 June 15 Pilot Mt to Courthouse Falls 8:00 AM* Hike 8, Drive 60, 1000 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Larry Ballard, 828-891-4318 leballard@cytechcis.net P400 This in-and-out hike begins with a short bushwhack below Pilot Mt. and follows FS 140A through interesting forest to FS 140 and on to Courthouse Falls. This route affords a different view of Devils Courthouse. There is one easy stream crossing (Kiesse Creek). Meeting places: Meet at Westgate at 8:00 AM to form carpools, and meet leader at Pisgah Forest Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest at 8:30 AM. Topos: Shining Rock, Sams Knob; also Nat’l. Geographic Pisgah Ranger District map
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-008 June 22 MST: Bee Tree Gap to Tanbark Tunnel 9:00 AM* Hike 6, Drive 40, 1300 ft. ascent, Rated B-B Brad Van Diver 828-669-2740 bravand@cs.com Note later start time. We descend through wildflowers from Bee Tree Gap to Potato Field Gap, then climb steeply to Lane Pinnacle. From there we follow the up-and-down ridge over Wolfden Knob and stop for lunch on Rich Knob. Finally, we have a long graceful descent to the tunnel past the historic ruins of Rattlesnake Lodge. *Only meeting place: Back parking lot at Folk Art Center. Map: MST Profiles, pg. 63-65
WEDNESDAY No. W0502-137 June 29 Roans above 6000’ 8:00 AM Hike 9, Drive 150, 2000 ft. ascent, Rated A-A Bruce Bente, 828-692-0116 bbente@cytechusa.com SB6K A beautiful AT hike with some of WNC’s finest views. Expect Flame azaleas and Gray’s Lilies to be in bloom. From Carver’s Gap we’ll go north to Grassy Ridge (6160 ft.), then double back south to Roan High Knob (6285 ft.) and the vista from Roan High Bluff (6287 ft.). Topo: Carvers Gap